What meat is called venison?

Answer 1

Why is a cow called beef.
Why is a cooked sheep called mutton but cooked lamb is lamb.
That's why English is the hardest foreign language to learn...because it has no rhyme nor reason.
Phil

Answer

Deer meat can be termed venison whether it is cooked or not. The term venison (which can be fairly applied to a few other meats) has been handed down from at least the 11th century and before. It was applied to meat that came from animals that were hunted. And that was a lot of animals. The word venison is derived from the Latin word venor, which means to hunt or pursue. Surf the link for more information.

The difference in names of live animals versus when they become food is a result of the Norman conquest of England. The Anglo-Saxon natives of the island who tended to the herds of cattle or sheep and hunted the deer called them by their old English names, names derived from the German language. The Normans lords, who saw the meat only when it was on a plate in front of them, spoke french and called the meat by its french name.

Answer 2

It's all on the origin of the word. From the Merriam-Webster etymology of "venison":

Middle English, from Anglo-French veneisun game, venison, from Latin venation-, venatio hunting, from venari to hunt, pursue; akin to Sanskrit vanoti he strives for

I guess that deer is to hunting like bass is to fishing. Do you "catch" my drift?

Answer 3

venison

Answer 4

Venison